Addressing the PRC Intelligence Threat to Academia

Spring 2025

This project, led by the Sentinel Research Society, addresses the increasing threat posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) intelligence services to U.S. academic institutions. PRC efforts to infiltrate and influence American academia—through talent recruitment, institutional partnerships, and intellectual property theft—pose a long-term risk to national competitiveness and strategic innovation. Despite this, many academic leaders and researchers remain unaware of the nature, scope, or implications of these activities.
This six-month research initiative aims to (1) clearly frame the threat; (2) identify solutions for raising awareness; and (3) develop educational materials and pilot engagement strategies for academic institutions. The research will draw on open-source intelligence, government reports, and expert consultation. By bridging the gap between national security and academic cultures, this project will support a scalable model for strategic communication and CI awareness in higher education.

Research Proposal

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Perceptions of Counterintelligence in Corporate and Academic Environments

Summer 2025

This collaborative project with IXN Solutions explores how counterintelligence (CI) is perceived in civilian sectors—specifically corporate and academic institutions—in response to escalating “whole-of-society” intelligence threats. As foreign espionage targets non-governmental data environments, understanding how these institutions view and implement CI measures is increasingly critical to national resilience.

Using open-source tools and cost-free platforms, this study will survey and interview a diverse range of professionals to assess awareness, attitudes, and institutional barriers to adopting CI practices. With leadership from two doctoral researchers and support from graduate and undergraduate assistants, the team will produce a detailed report for IXN, academic analysis for the Sentinel Journal, and policy recommendations to improve CI literacy in vulnerable sectors.

This approach demonstrates how rigorous, policy-relevant research can be conducted using only free and open-access tools—ensuring both academic quality and practical application in support of national security priorities.

Research Proposal

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Perceptions of American Values and Unity in an Era of Polarization

Future Study

This research project, led by the Sentinel Research Society, explores American perceptions of national values, moral distinctiveness, and political unity during a period of heightened domestic polarization and foreign information warfare. As adversarial nations such as the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation deploy coordinated influence operations to weaken U.S. social cohesion, a fundamental question emerges: Do Americans still view their country as a moral leader and a global force for good?
This study will investigate whether citizens believe that foundational American values—freedom, democracy, equality, and liberty—remain relevant to contemporary governance and society, and whether these values still serve to unite Americans across ideological divides. Using surveys, focus groups, content analysis, and an experimental component exposing participants to foreign narratives, the research will analyze the effectiveness of adversarial disinformation in shaping domestic perceptions.
Findings will offer insights into the resilience of American civic identity and provide strategic recommendations to strengthen national unity. This project will culminate in a public-facing report, academic publication, and a policy brief for stakeholders concerned with information security, psychological defense, and national cohesion.

Research Proposal

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